Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

Sea kelp, also known as kombu and haidai, is a marine flat red or brown algae that belongs to the family Laminariaceae of the plants. Sea kelp makes a rich dietary source of calcium and iodine. Other nutrients include vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K; minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, chromium, selenium, silicon and barium; gels such as agar, alginate and carrageenan.

High amounts of calcium in sea kelp help maintain the health of bones and protect against the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium assists in normal blood clotting and promotes normal muscle function. Iodine in sea kelp assists in synthesizing thyroid hormones, which help boost low thyroid function and reduce the symptoms of cretinism and goitre. Vitamins in kelp help boost the immune function and promote healthy skin, nails and hair.

Gels in kelp aid digestion and help stimulate gastrointestinal health. They help relieve and soothe inflamed mucous membranes and reduce the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the body.

Seal kelp exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and it helps treat rheumatism and arthritis. It contains germanium, an antioxidant that helps combat cancer, promotes skin healing and boosts immune function. A recent research shows that sea kelp is effective in lowering blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

Lifeplan Sea Kelp 400mg is a popular brand on the market that is made using finest quality marine sea kelp. It helps maintain healthy musculoskeletal and digestive systems and preserves the immune function. This product contains no added sugars, artificial colours and live yeasts.

Nutrition has a direct effect on the physiological as well as metabolic processes of the body. Nutrition can be defined as the supply of the necessary materials to the cells and tissues to support life. Nutrition mainly comes in the form of food and a proper nutrition is essential to prevent many health problems.

There are six classes of nutrients which play a key role in keeping you healthy and fit. Those six classes of nutrients include: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Protein, fat, water and carbohydrate are macronutrients because they are needed in relatively large amounts by your body. Minerals and vitamins, on the other hand, are micronutrients because they are needed in smaller quantities. Macronutrients provide structural materials for the cells and provide energy to tissues.

Protein makes an integral part of many animals’ body structures especially muscles, hair, and skin. It also makes an important component of several enzymes that control chemical reactions within the body. Each molecule of protein is composed of amino acids, which further contain nitrogen and sulphur. Not only amino acids help produce new proteins, but they are also responsible for replacing damaged proteins. Some amino acids can not be produced by our bodies and they are categorized as “essential amino acids”. There are 21 amino acids in a human body, out of which 10 are essential and, therefore, must be included in your diet. One needs adequate amounts of amino acids in certain situations such as development, pregnancy, and injury. Important food sources of protein include tofu, soy-products, meats, legumes, eggs, cheese and milk.

A molecule of fat contains several fatty acids. Fats may be classified as unsaturated or saturated. Unsaturated fats are further categorized as monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. Moreover, unsaturated fatty acids are classified as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Unsaturated fats mainly come from plant sources and are considered healthier than saturated fats which typically come from animal sources. Important food sources of unsaturated fats include flaxseed oil and olive oil.
Carbohydrates may be classified as polysaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharide. Carbohydrates include fibre, sugar, and starches. The important food sources of carbohydrates include grain-based products, bread, noodles, rice, and some pulses. Dietary fibre completely absorbs in humans and helps avoid gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea and constipation.

Dietary minerals are mainly comprised of chemical elements other than oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. They can be categorized into macrominerals and microminerals. Macrominerals are those minerals which are essential for your body with a recommended daily allowance greater than 200mg/day. They include magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, phosphorus, and sulphur. Microminerals are required in trace amounts with a recommended daily allowance lesser than 200mg/day. They include cobalt, manganese, nickel, fluoride, copper, chromium, iodine, selenium, zinc and iron.

There are different types of vitamins such as vitamin A, B complex, C, D, E and K. Vitamin deficiencies may result in an impaired immune function, premature aging, certain forms of cancer, disorders of cell metabolism and poor psychological health. Important food sources of vitamins include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts.

You can supply your body with all of the above mentioned nutrients by either following a balanced diet plan or consuming dietary supplements on a daily basis. You should take a multivitamin, protein powder or meal replacement powder on a regular basis to provide your body with protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals and vitamins.

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Vitamin C is an important nutrient that helps maintain the health of your skin, immune system and other bodily systems. There are many dietary sources of vitamin C, so you can reach your daily needs by incorporating those items into your dietary routine. Foods that are high in vitamin C are orange, red pepper, kiwi, guava, lemon, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Niacin is a B-vitamin that helps lower serum cholesterol levels. It helps get energy from food you eat and also helps form red blood cells. You can get niacin from poultry, eggs, dairy products, meat, fish, cereals, peas, beans and leafy green vegetables.

Zinc is an important mineral that is found in cells throughout the body. Not only does it help your body make enzymes and proteins, but it also helps your immune system fight off invading viruses and bacteria. Another important function of zinc is that it maintains the health of male reproductive system. The rich dietary sources of zinc are oysters, poultry and red meat.

If you find it difficult to consume these essential nutrients on a regular basis due to your hectic lifestyle, then make sure that you take a multivitamin supplement that gives you a hit of minerals and vitamins into one handy tablet to help you have a best day possible.

Berocca Effervescent Vitamin C is a popular brand that helps support your immune system and helps your body release energy from food. It is a fizzy orange vitamin drink that makes a tailored combination of B & C vitamins and essential minerals such as zinc and magnesium. Another good thing about Berocca is that it is free from artificial stimulants, caffeine and sugar.

Super foods are types of food that are known for their high proportions of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, bioflavonoids and roughages. These foods are believed to exhibit disease-busting qualities and help boost your immune system. A regular consumption of super foods helps protect against such conditions as cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, different types of cancer such as breast, colon, prostrate, lung and blood cancers, and other ailments.

There are many food items that do qualify as super foods. They include beans, lentil, oat, barley, wheat germ, wheatgrass, lemongrass, ginger root, parsley, soy, spinach, kale, broccoli, beetroot, alfafa, spirlina, green tea, white tea, pomegranate, blueberries, goji berries, acai berries, watermelon, mango, avocados, walnut, almond, pistachio, salmon and mackerel.

One should include several super foods in his or her dietary routine each week to maintain a good health and well-being. Super foods offer maximum health benefits when they are eaten grilled, steamed or simply raw. Remember that overcooking or boiling can deprive super foods of their essential nutrients.

If you find it difficult to regularly consume super foods due to your hectic lifestyle, then make sure that you take a supplement that make use of super foods in its formulation. Natrol Acai 500mg Antioxidant is a popular brand on the market that contains acai.

Acai is an antioxidant rich berry native to Brazil and is considered as one of the top super foods in the world. It is a powerful and nutritious fruit that is valued for its nutrients and high oxygen-radical absorbance capacity. You should take one capsule twice daily with a meal.

A seed is a mature fertilized plant ovule enclosed in a covering called the seed coat. It consists of an embryo and stored food. Many seeds are edible and they make rich dietary sources of essential nutrients. Examples of edible seeds include nuts, legumes and whole grains.

Seeds contain amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, fibre, minerals, oils, lignans, mucilage and antioxidants. The protein in seeds is easily digested and helps add lean mass to your body. The fibre in seeds helps cleanse the metabolic waste and dried mucus in gut and protects against the risks of constipation and colon cancer. Lignans in seeds exhibit anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The B vitamins in seeds help release energy from food, improve immune system, promote cell growth and reproduction, and help maintain the health of your skin.

If you find it difficult to consume seeds on a regular basis due to your hectic lifestyle, then you should eat 9Bar Nutty Seed Bar because it makes a unique mix of seeds, nuts (almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, pistachio nuts) and honey. This delicious bar contains around 27% nuts and 31% seeds with the usual carob topping (soya, vegetable fat, sunflower lecithin, sugar). Nutty 9Bar makes an excellent dietary source of vitamin B3 that is essential for the skin and good mood. It also contains folic acid that helps maintain the health of your heart and protects against the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It makes a unique combination of flavours that blend together to give a chunky energy.

Corn, also known as maize, is a tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears. The botanical name for maize is “Zea mays” and it belongs to the Poaceae family of plants. It is widely cultivated in America, Mexico and Asia. Maize and ground dried maize make a staple food in many regions of world. Not only does it provide the necessary calories for daily metabolism, but it also makes a rich dietary source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. It also contains antioxidants that act as antic-cancer agents and help prevent premature aging.

Other health benefits of maize include prevention of digestive ailments such as indigestion, constipation, nausea and haemorrhoids, prevention of cardiovascular problems such as high cholesterol levels, coronary artery disease and heart attack, controlling diabetes, lowering high blood pressure, prevention of colorectal cancer and prevention of neural-tube defects at birth.

If hectic lifestyle does not allow you to consume corn and other healthy foods on a regular basis, then make sure that you take a multivitamin supplement. Higher Nature Wise Woman Multivitamin & Antioxidant makes a complete multivitamin and mineral supplement with added friendly bacteria. The minerals and vitamins are in a form similar to food, which the body is designed to digest. This supplement provides brain foods, key antioxidants, bioflavonoids, amino acids and other nutrients such as alpha lipoic acid, carnitine, coenzyme Q 10 and isoflavones. It supports energy production, counters excess free radicals and supports healthy bone density. Take 3 capsules a day, with or between meals.

Aging can affect a woman’s body image in numerous ways. Not only does it bring physical changes such as wrinkles, deep lines, hair loss, weight gain and sagging boobs, but it is also responsible for the deformation and weakening of the bones in the post menopausal women. Certain hormonal changes in the women aged 45 and above are mainly responsible for menopause. All these changes could deprive women of their confidence and self-esteem. Many women also become a victim to stress and depression due to ignorance and loneliness.

The point to remember is that aging offers women a new outlook and new opportunities in life. They should try to keep a positive and healthy attitude towards aging. By incorporating a combination of healthy diets and regular physical activities into their daily routine, they can still enjoy a healthy and meaningful life. Consumption of foods rich in vitamins and minerals can help them to look younger and stay active.

They should also use a dietary supplement that provides all around nutrition for women. Vitabiotics Wellwoman Original Evening Primrose+Starflower Oils makes a comprehensive daily multivitamin including Starflower & Evening Primrose oil. This supplement contains a wide range of nutrients essential for a healthy lifestyle and vibrant looks.

It provides with vitamins B, vitamin E, antioxidants, beta-carotenes and magnesium. Vitamins B and magnesium are essential for the formation of red blood cells and they help absorb energy from food, where as antioxidants and beta-carotene destroy free radicals that are mainly responsible for the ageing of skin cells, reddening and wrinkling of skin and sagging skin.

A man’s sexual health is a combination of four things: desire to have sex, getting an erection, keeping an erection and achieving an ejaculation. But if a man fails to achieve any of these, then it is quite embarrassing for him and he should bring healthy changes to his lifestyle.

Physical health and mental fitness play an important role in maintaining a man’s sexual wellbeing. He should stay away from anxiety and depression as both are known to cause impotence. Eating healthy is a key to maintain your sexual health. You should consume protein, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals to boost your sexual power. Moreover, you should avoid smoking and alcohol consumption because both can lead to a lack of libido.

There are certain minerals that can improve a man’s sexual health. Zinc is quite effective in this regard as it helps maintain the male reproductive health. Zinc-rich foods include oysters, shellfish, liver, heart, lean meats, nuts, pulses, green leafy vegetables and fruits.

You can also use a supplement that contains zinc in its formulation. Berocca Multivitamin Tablets makes an advanced formula that contains essential vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc. B vitamins support vitality and stamina as they help release energy from food and promote healthy muscle function. Vitamin C helps support a healthy immune system and protects your cells from premature aging. Magnesium is essential for the health of your nervous system and skeletal muscles. Zinc plays an important role in maintaining the health of male reproductive system and keeping your immune system and skin healthy.

Trichotillomania is a condition of hair that results from the pulling at hair or twisting them. One can describe it as a habit that sometimes happens without realizing it. This condition gives rise to broken-off hair on the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes.

Trichotillomania is different from alopecia areata as the latter is responsible for the perfectly smooth, hair-free patches on the scalp, beard and moustaches. As far as the treatment of trichotillomania is concerned, it is entirely behavioural. All you need to do is to realize that you’re doing it and then stop!

In order to regrow your broken-off hair, make sure that you use a dietary supplement which promotes hair growth.

NuHair DHT Blocker Hair Growth & Condition is a natural herbal blend for thinning hair & hair loss. It supports hair regrowth from the inside-out and blocks the production of DHT. DHT or dihydrotestosterone are the bad form of hormone that build up in the scalp and damage the hair-producing follicles.

DHT destroys the hair follicles, which leads to hair loss. NuHair DHT Blocker is a natural supplement that nourishes weak hair with nutrients. Not only does it promote fuller, thicker and healthier hair for women and men belonging to all age groups, but it also blocks the negative effects of DHT. Moreover, it works well for all hair types such as dry, greasy, oily and moderate. You should take one tablet, two times a day with a meal. It is important that you do not exceed recommended intake.

It is important to follow a diet plan on a weekly basis that consists of approximately 20 percent animal-based foods and 80 percent plant-based foods. The first day of your dietary plan should be comprised of lean meats such as turkey, chicken or fish at the lunch followed by consumption of small portions of vegetables and fruits for the rest of the day.

On the second day, you can consume steamed vegetables along with raw and fresh fruits at lunch and a small meal consisting of lean meats at dinner. The third day should include a starch food such as sweet potato or steamed potato at lunch followed by a grain dish at dinner.

On the fourth day, you can eat legumes such as black beans and chick peas at lunch and vegetables salad at dinner. The fifth day of your dietary plan should be comprised of clean seafood such as wild salmon or mackerel at lunch and cereals such as brown rice at dinner. On the sixth day, make sure that you consume a well balanced diet which includes any animal food and vegetables that your body craves. The seventh day of your dietary plan should include fruit or vegetable juice at lunch and chicken or fish at dinner.

If you are unable to incorporate a balanced diet plan into your routine due to your hectic lifestyle, then make sure that you use a dietary supplement which provides you with the daily recommended allowances of essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals.

Sci MX Proplex Meal Replacement Sachets makes a unique combination of protein, carbohydrate, BCCA, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and fibre. It helps lose fat whilst retaining muscle and increases lean body weight. It tends to provide the body with the vital nutrients it requires. Moreover, it is virtually sugar free and contains only low levels of natural fruit fructose.